The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, with June 11 the date on every football fan’s calendar for the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa. A lot of attention has been paid to the tournament favorites. Can Spain’s Lamine Yamal-led new generation lead them to victory after their surprise success at the 2024 European Championship? Will England finally end sixty long years of pain after coming closer than ever before in recent campaigns?
If you believe the online betting sides, both have a great chance. The newest World Cup odds make reigning European champions La Roja the 9/2 frontrunners to leave the MetLife Stadium with the trophy on July 19. Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions are just behind at 11/2. But while these two heavyweights are expected to impress, what about the teams that may not be able to handle the pressure?
Recent flops
At every World Cup there are always one or two teams that shockingly collapse and leave early. In 2022, Germany was eliminated in the group stage after a defeat 2-1 defeat against Japantheir second consecutive exit after falling victim to the curse of the champions in Russia four years earlier. Belgium also suffered an early exit after losing to Morocco in the group stage, with a campaign marred by internal unrest ultimately ending in disaster.
Heading into this summer’s showdown, a number of teams are at risk of suffering a similar fate. Let’s take a look at the two we think are most likely.
Brazil
Brazil are a record five-time champions, but their record since their most recent win in 2002 is abysmal. Since Ronaldo’s brilliance in Japan and South Korea, they have fallen to the quarter-finals in four of those five tournaments. Most recently it was Croatia that relished the role of underdogs, dumping the Selecao on penalties after heroics from goalkeeper Dominik Livaković. And things have only gotten worse since then.
The Brazilians had a disastrous Copa America run in 2024, losing again on penalties in the last eight, this time to Uruguay. Their qualifying campaign for the upcoming World Cup did not go much better. At one point there was a very real possibility that the Selecao would not receive an invitation to football’s biggest celebration after a run of one win in six threatened to derail their hopes.
The appointment of Carlo Ancelotti improved the situation somewhat, but fifth place in the standings marked Brazil’s worst qualifying performance since CONMEBOL expanded to an 18-match qualifying campaign in 2002. As if that wasn’t bad enough, this Selecao team has lost some of its superstars, with the likes of Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Thiago Silva all well past their best.
As a result, the new generation has to get going, and they will immediately come under pressure, having been named fourth favorites on September 1. Vinicius Jr. is the new star of the show, but he has been in terrible form for Real Madrid this season. As such, expectations could well shift to 18-year-old Chelsea sensation Estêvão to provide that traditional samba flair. Can he handle this task at such a young age? Maybe he should, if his teammates are impressed again.
USA
Now that the United States is organizing the tournament together with neighboring countries Mexico and Canada, expectations in the United States have increased. No one outside the United States will be tipping the Stars and Stripes to win the tournament, but there is certainly hope in the country. Unfortunately, we’re here to remind them that things could go seriously wrong when they open their doors to the world in six months.
Former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino was appointed manager in an attempt to build a deep World Cup run, but the Argentine’s reign has left much to be desired. The 53-year-old presided over the 2024 Copa America group stage and also suffered a shock defeat in the Concacaf Nations League semi-final against Panama. They did reach the final of the Gold Cup last summer, but even then they were less than impressive on their way to the final before being completely outclassed by Mexico in the showpiece event at the SoFi Stadium.
The current American team is tipped as the best ever. Europe-based stars lead the way, with Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Timothy Weah all capable of the spectacular, while Chris Richards provides defensive solidity. But they have done little to inspire confidence during Pochettino’s time in charge, conspiring to lose friendlies to the likes of South Korea, Switzerland and Turkey over the past year.
After being drawn in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia and a European qualifier, they will expect to win the group before heading to the quarter-finals. Anything less will be considered a disappointment. Will the USMNT handle the pressure? If they don’t, the growth of ‘football’ in the country could go back a few notches.
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